Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-18s fell to their second defeat of the season, as they lost 2-1 to Swansea City at the Landore Training Centre this afternoon.

Goals from Mathew Roberts and Oliver Cooper either side of half-time gave the Swans a 2-0 lead, and despite Alex Cochrane’s stoppage time free-kick, the Seagulls were unable to find an equaliser.

After a positive start from Albion, Ryan Longman teed the ball back for Charlie Ferguson, but the midfielder’s first-time effort was blocked in front of goal.

Isaac Hutchinson then had a chance to put Ian Buckman’s team in front, but his shot from Longman’s pass into the penalty area was blocked, before Hutchinson went close again after rounding Alex Lang and shooting wide.

Swansea improved as the half went on, and Oliver Cooper almost put the hosts in front when his volley flew narrowly wide of Tom McGill’s goal, but they got their rewards on the half-four mark.

Tom Price found Roberts with a defence-splitting pass, and the striker composed himself before firing past McGill to break the deadlock.

Albion began the second half in positive fashion, with Hutchinson’s free-kick sailing straight into the hands of Lang, before the Swans shots-stopper saved well from Longman’s curling effort.

But the hosts doubled their lead soon afterwards, as Cooper beat McGill with a brilliant finish into the top corner, as Albion’s task became even more difficult with little time remaining.

After being denied from long range, Cochrane halved the deficit directly from a free-kick in the dying stages of the game, but it was too late for the Seagulls in Wales.